J Hudson & Co
| Private | |
| Industry | Manufacturing |
| Founded | Birmingham, England (1883) |
| Headquarters | Birmingham, England |
|
Key people
|
Joseph Hudson, Founder Simon Topman, managing director |
| Products | Whistles |
| Revenue |
 5 million GBP (2005) |
|
Number of employees
|
~100 |
| Website | www.acmewhistles.co.uk |
J Hudson & Co was founded in the 1870s in Birmingham by Joseph Hudson (1848–1930) and his brother James Hudson (1850–1888). The company became a manufacturer of whistles and continues as Acme Whistles. Acme is the world’s largest and most famous producer of whistles. They are headquartered in the Jewellery Quarter district of Birmingham, England.
The company was family-run for over 100 years and three generations; Joseph Hudson's son, James Clifford Hudson and his grandson, Leon Clifford Hudson ran the company after Joseph retired. As of 2014, Acme Whistles is owned and managed by Simon Topman.
Joseph Hudson started working at the age of 12. He moved to Bent & Parker, a maker of army supplies and whistles in Birmingham. In 1870, aged 22, he started his own business with younger brother James.
In 1883 Hudson began tinkering in his toolshed to make gadgets to sell, including whistles. After observing local police struggling to communicate with rattles, he realised that his whistle could be used as a tool. As the story goes, Hudson, a violin player, accidentally dropped his violin and it shattered on the floor. Observing how the discordant sound of the breaking strings travelled, Hudson had the idea to put a pea in the whistle. This gave it an ear splitting rattle that could grab attention even a mile away. After a demonstration at Scotland Yard, Hudson had his first sale.
This 1884 contract with the police gradually made Hudson the largest whistle manufacturer for British Empire police forces, military, sports, railways and many others. By the 1890s, Hudson faced the rise of many competitor makers and companies.
Highlights of early company history include:
By 1908, Hudson and De Courcy were the two major whistle makers in England.
Starting 1909 at a new facility in northern Birmingham at 244 Barr St., Hudson expanded to more markets in Europe and overseas, with an office in Paris, a large 1910 French catalogue, and new connections with United States sporting goods companies and distributors. Hudson was left with just one British competitor, A De Courcy & Co, from 1909 to 1927.
In 1927 Hudson purchased A De Courcy's patent rights, tools and stock. Hudson became the world's largest maker, gaining the Thunderer Registered Trademark. The Acme Thunderer whistle and its variations became the world's best-selling whistle.
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Wikipedia